Memory Verse: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” Luke 6:38.
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10
Introduction:
Some works of God defy explanation. The inability of humans to know God’s works apart from knowing Him is one of the themes of this book. Men and women must venture forth judiciously if they are ever to realize a gain, even though there is always a certain amount of risk. However, do not hold back from getting involved. Let us let the success or failure of a task rest in the hand of God, but let us set to the task.
God wants His people to rejoice and young people to enjoy their youth. But all such rejoicing must be tempered with the recognition that God holds us accountable for our sinful actions. If we allow our lives to degenerate into superficial levity and the enjoyment of sinful things, the end result will be trouble and suffering in this life.
“Taking up the cross was always spoken of by Christ as the test of discipleship. On three different occasions (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:27) we find the words repeated, “If any man will come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me.” While the Lord was still on His way to the cross, this expression—taking up the cross—was the most appropriate to indicate that conformity to Him to which the disciple is called.
But now that He has been crucified, the Holy Spirit gives another expression, in which our entire conformity to Christ is still more powerfully set forth—the believing disciple is himself crucified with Christ. The cross is the chief mark of the Christian as of Christ; the crucified Christ and the crucified Christian belong to each other. One of the chief elements of likeness to Christ consists in being crucified with Him. Whoever wishes to be like Him must seek to understand the secret of fellowship with His cross.
At first sight the Christian who seeks conformity to Jesus is afraid of this truth; he shrinks from the painful suffering and death with which the thought of the cross is connected. As his spiritual discernment becomes clearer, however, this word becomes all his hope and joy, and he glories in the cross, because it makes him a partner in a death and victory that has already been accomplished, and in which the deliverance from the powers of the flesh and of the world has been secured to him…” Written by Andrew Murray
(Taken from Thomas Nelson, Inc., Heritage of Great Evangelical Teaching: Featuring the best of Martin Luther, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, C. H. Spurgeon and others (computer file), electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.)
Study Questions:
- What can we expect to happen when we sow liberally? Ecclesiastes 11:1; II Samuel 17:27-29; Galatians 6:7; Malachi 3:10-12; Proverbs 3:9-10; Proverbs 11:25-27; Philippians 4:14-19; Psalm 20:1-4; Psalm 41:1-2; Isaiah 58:10-11.
- What does the preacher say about giving a full serving, or portion, to those who need it, especially while we have it to give? Ecclesiastes 11:2; Nehemiah 8:10; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 25:21-22; Proverbs 28:27; Luke 6:31-38; Deuteronomy 14:27-29; Galatians 6:9-10; II Corinthians 9:6-12.
- Why should we be as faithful in giving as the clouds are to pour down their rain, and to be a blessing in the place we are in, or as the tree that falls to the ground is to those around it? Ecclesiastes 11:3; Proverbs 25:21-22; Matthew 24:45-46; Luke 19:17; Job 31:16-23; Psalm 112:1-10.
- What would happen if a farmer stopped sowing seed every time he saw a cloud in the sky or stopped reaping the harvest every time a wind stirred? Ecclesiastes 11:4; Psalm 127:2; Philippians 4:4-6.
- Should a man withhold his giving because he can’t see or understand the specific way God will bless him? Ecclesiastes 11:5; Malachi 3:8-12.
- Why should a man be consistently diligent in all his labors? Ecclesiastes 11:6; Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 22:29; Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 27:23-27; Proverbs 31:10-31.
- Why is it important for people to be diligent in life while their health and strength are still good? Ecclesiastes 11:7-8; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Lamentations 3:27; Job 9:25; Job 14:2; Psalm 89:47; Matthew 11:29.
- Why is it good for the young to enjoy their youth and to also be diligent about their manner of life? Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; Deuteronomy 14:24-26; Psalm 119:1-7, 9-18, 24; Titus 2:6-15; I Timothy 4:7-8; I Peter 5:5; Romans 6:12-14; Matthew 6:19-24.